Anacardium occidentale L., Anacardiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Low risk, score: 0 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: casue, kasoe, kasoy

English: cashew, cashew nut

French: acajou à pommes, anacardier, pomme de cajou, pommier cajou

Maori (Cook Islands): kātū

Samoan: ‘apu ‘initia, apu initia

Spanish: anacardo, marañōn

Tongan: ‘apu, kesiu

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Spreading evergreen tree to 12 m, the trunk to 5 dm thick or more, with milky, acrid juice; petioles 6-15 mm long; leaf blades (9) 10-20 cm long, 5-10 cm wide, oblong-oval or obovate to oblanceolate, rounded or emarginate apically, prominently marked with 9-14 pairs of widely spreading lateral veins; panicles subcorymbose, terminal, 10-25 cm long, the branches widely spreading, naked except for the terminal cymose flower clusters; flowers white, becoming yellow pink, ca 8 mm wide; fruit curved-reniform, more or less fingerlike, or heart-shaped, ca 2.5 cm long, with the seed edible when roasted, borne atop a fleshy receptacle, 5-9 cm long, yellow or red, edible when ripe" (Welsh, 1998; pp. 28-29).

Habitat/ecology:  Prefers fertile, moist soils but is well adapted to other conditions. Most common in subtropical climates. (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 138).

Propagation:  Seed. Can be dispersed by fruit bats.

Native range:  Tropical America; in widespread cultivation.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 32) Uncommon
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 145)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 13) Naturalized.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 84)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 13) Naturalized.
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 128658) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 145)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 451) Vouchers cited: DA 16968, DA 13499
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1963) (voucher ID: BISH 15279) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 128661) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 451) Vouchers cited: Tothill 457, DA 9547, DA 12255
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1960) (voucher ID: BISH 15278) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia French Polynesia Islands	French Polynesia Islands	cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 601904) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 1000296) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 4)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 4)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1967) (voucher ID: BISH 22324) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (pp. 28-29) Vouchers cited: Moore 592, BRY 25757a
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1927) (voucher ID: BISH 14076) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1993) (voucher ID: BISH 658255) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 4)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 492251) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (pp. 28-29) Vouchers cited: BRY 25975, BRY 25982
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 493286) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 389) Rare.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 145) Vouchers cited: Merrill 105, Stafford 182
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 128662) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 128663) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (year unknown) (voucher ID: BISH 128664) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 196)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 196)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 14) Vouchers cited: Ledroit in MacKee 40194, MacKee 41711
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 42) Vouchers cited: CHR 170300, CHR 170301
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 22)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 10)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Waterhouse, Barbara (year unknown)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 69)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 65)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1968) (voucher ID: BISH 28751) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1979) (voucher ID: BISH 439310) Taxon name on voucher: Anacardium occidentale L.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 46)
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 64)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 138)
Colombia Colombia	Colombia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 103)

Comments:  Naturalizing around a planted tree on Ma‘uke, Cook Islands (Space & Flynn, 2002).

Naturalized north of Broome in Western Australia (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 138).

Reported to be invasive in South Africa, Mozambique, and Jamaica (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 138).

Additional information:  Photo and additional information at the University of Guam "Plants of Guam" web site.
Information from the Purdue University NewCROP web site.
Information from the World Agroforestry Centre's AgroForestryTree Database.

Additional online information about Anacardium occidentale is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Taxonomic information about Anacardium occidentale may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 0. Voucher specimen #BISH 128662 (Thompson, J.B. 218).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 0. Voucher specimen #BISH 128663 (Thompson, J.B. 368).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 0. Voucher specimen #BISH 128664 (Nelson, P. 557).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1927. Voucher specimen #BISH 14076 (J.W.Moore 592).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1929. Voucher specimen #BISH 128658 (Wilder, G.P. 851).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1960. Voucher specimen #BISH 15278 (Pillay, A. 12255).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1963. Voucher specimen #BISH 15279 (Kuruvoli, I. 13499).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1967. Voucher specimen #BISH 22324 (Smith, H.M. 44).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1968. Voucher specimen #BISH 28751 (Bristol, M.L. 2223).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1969. Voucher specimen #BISH 128661 (Parham, J.W. 16968).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1979. Voucher specimen #BISH 439310 (Cox, P.A. 316).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1982. Voucher specimen #BISH 493286 (Florence, J. 3274).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1983. Voucher specimen #BISH 492251 (Florence, J. 5350).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1988. Voucher specimen #BISH 601904 (Florence 9475).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1988. Voucher specimen #BISH 1000296 (W.L.Wagner 6144).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1993. Voucher specimen #BISH 658255 (Florence 11887).

Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. 1998. Potential environmental weeds in Australia: Candidate species for preventative control. Canberra, Australia. Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia. 208 pp.

Falanruw, Marjorie C./Maka, Jean E./Cole, Thomas G./Whitesell, Craig D. 1990. Common and scientific names of trees and shrubs of Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands. Pac. SW Forest and Range Expt. Stn. Resource Bulletin PSW-67. 91 pp.

Fosberg, F. R. 1997. Preliminary checklist of the flowering plants and ferns of the Society Islands. Ed. by David R. Stoddart. U. Cal. Berkeley.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1979. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian dicotyledonae. Micronesica 15:1-295.

Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands. Research Bulletin No. 7. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Honiara. 203 pp.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

Smith, Albert C. 1985. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 3. 758 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2000. Observations on invasive plant species in American Samoa.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 51 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2000. Report to the Government of Niue on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 34 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2001. Report to the Kingdom of Tonga on invasive plant species of environmental concern.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 78 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of the Cook Islands on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 146 pp.

Space, James C./Flynn, Tim. 2002. Report to the Government of Samoa on invasive plant species of environmental concern. USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 83 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate. 2004. Report to the Government of Niue and the United Nations Development Programme: Invasive plant species on Niue following Cyclone Heta. UNDP NIU/98/G31 - Niue Enabling Activity. 80 pp.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

Swarbrick, J. T. 1997. Environmental weeds and exotic plants on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean: a report to Parks Australia. 101 pp. plus appendix.

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2007. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Waterhouse, Barbara. 0. Barbara Waterhouse, pers. com.

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1984. Annotated list of Samoan plant names. Economic Botany 38:464.489.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. Ethnobotany of the Cook Islands: The plants, their Maori names, and their uses. Allertonia 5(4):347-424.